Package case



Jan. 7, 1958 R. H. KLEl N 2,818,969

PACKAGE CASE Filed Oct. 13, 1955 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. KLEIN kamao A TTOR/VE Y United. States 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-413) This invention relates to a package case or container for holding a package of cigarettes or other merchandise.

The present invention provides an improved package case of the type adapted for repeated use in holding packages containing cigarettes or other merchandise which is apt to become crushed or damaged when carried in ones pocket. My improved package case permits the convenient insertion of a complete package of: cigarettes Without the distortion or adjustment of any part of either the case or the package. When once inserted inside the package case, the package and the cigarettes therein are securely held and protected against damage from crushing. The case embodies a construction capable of normally retaining the entire or remaining contents of a package therein, but unlike other cigarette package containers of the type now in use, a cigarette may be easily withdrawn without distorting the case or adjusting any movable closure means associated therewith.

My improved cigarette package case is formed with openings in two of its opposed sides, such openings being so arranged and proportioned that a cigarette package may be slipped into either opening and then projected diagonally through the other opening to a position permitting the somewhat pivotal movement of the package to a position wherein such package is contained wholly inside the case with the sides and ends of the latter confining such package so that any endwise or sidewise movement thereof is prevented. The diagonal insertion of the package into the case and its subsequent pivotal movement to a carrying position inside the case is accomplished by arranging such opposed sides in parallel but not in either partially or wholly opposed relationship. Either or both of the opposite ends of the case are formed so as normally to retain the cigarettes inside such case but at the same time permit their convenient withdrawal.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel package case having a substantially rigid integrated construction with no adjustable closure means, but having side openings which are so arranged as to permit the insertion of a package into the case but not its escape therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette package case of the kind characterized, one having end openings which are so shaped and positioned that the cigarettes are normally prevented from falling out but which permit the withdrawal of a cigarette when desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette package case of the kind characterized wherein the sides are so constructed and arranged that a package inserted through openings formed in its sides will fit snugly within and against such sides and ends of the case irrespective of what proportion of the contents thereof have been withdrawn.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claim, or will be obvious to one skilled in the iQQ art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to show herein certain embodiments of a package case which is representative of my invention; it is to be under stood, however, that the embodiment of my invention shown and described herein is for illustration purposes only and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package case or container embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken through the case shown in Fig. 1, showing diagrammatically by the broken lines the way a package is initially positioned when inserting it into the case;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing another embodiment of my invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing other embodiments of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention wherein longitudinal openings are provided for the insertion of a package itno the case;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the case shown in Fig. 6, showing diagrammatically by the broken lines the way a package is initially positioned when inserting it into the case; and

Pig. 8 is a top plan view of a case which preferably embodies a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but which has a top side substantially the width of a cigarette package.

Referring to the drawing, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, the numerals 1 and 2 designate similarly shaped opposed rectangular top and bottom sides, respectively, of a case or container adapted to receive and hold a package of cigarettes or other merchandise of conventional size and shape. The top and bottom sides 1 and 2, or either of.

them, is formed with a suitable opening 3 for the withdrawal of a cigarette B from a package A contained in the case. Afiixed to the ends of the top and bottom sides 1 and 2 are similarly shaped rectangular lateral sides 4, 4 which are arranged in parallel relationship. The case is provided with a rectangular shaped lower front side v wall 5 and a rectangular shaped upper rear side wall 6, which respectively underlie and overlie rectangular openings 5 and 6 in the front and rear sides of the case.

The front and rear side walls 5 and 6 and the rectangular openings 5' and 6' therein lie in parallel planes, and

such walls have substantially the same dimensions. The

Vertical dimension of each of the front and rear side walls 5 and 6 is preferably slightly less than half of the overall height of the case, and the vertical dimension of each of the front and rear openings 5 and 6 is slightly greater than half the height of the case. The front opening 5' in the front wall can be said to lie wholly above a hori zontal plane passing approximately through the center of the case, and similarly, the rear opening 6' may be said to lie wholly below such horizontal plane. The front opening 5 is positioned directly in front of the rear side 6 while the rear opening 6 is positioned directly to the rear of the front side 5. The upper edge 5a of the front side 5 lies in a horizontal plane which is slightly below the horizontal plane in which the lower edge 6a of the rear side 6 lies. The sizes and shapes of the top and bottom sides 1 and 2, the lateral sides 4, 4 and the front and rear sides 5 and 6 are such that a cigarette package A of conventional shape will fit snugly inside the case with its top and bottom confined by the top and bottom sides of the case, its lateral sides confined by the lateral sides of the case and its front and rear sides confined by the front and rear sides of the case. With the top side of the cigarette package open, a cigarette may be removed through the opening 3 in the top side 1 of the case, but

the remaining cigarettes before the removal of such cigarette will be retained in the package. While the package case has been described as having a top and bottom and a front and rear, it is to be noted that the top and bottom portions are 'the same -in construction, thereby making the case reversible to the extent that the cigarette package may be positioned so-its contents are dischargeable from eithe'r'the top or bottom.

One of the novel features of the package case embodying my invention is the arrangement, shape and size of the front and rear openings and 6' so that an entire cigarette package may be inserted into the case without distorting either the package or the case. Before inserting a cigarette package A into the case, the top side of such package is substantially removed so as to expose the upper ends of the cigarettes B. The upper end portion of the cigarette package A is inserted through the rear lower opening 6, after which-the package is positioned at an incline and projected upwardly until its said upper end portion extends through the upper front opening 5', as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2. The relative positions of the upper edge 5a of the front side 5, the lower edge 6a of the rear side 6 and the rear edge of the bottom side 2 of the case are such that when the cigarette package is engaging therewith as it is projectedupwardly through the rear and front openings 6' and 5', such package will be guided to the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2, from whence it may be pivotally moved about a-central transverse axis in a direction whereby its upper side is swung rearwardly to a position directly beneath the top side-1 of the case and its bottom side is swung forwardly to an overlying position with respect to the bottom side 2 of the case. When once positioned inside the case, the cigarette package is normally prevented by the sides of the case from falling out; in fact, the package fits so snugly inside the case that it cannot shift its position therein. It is, of course, apparent that the cigarette package may be inserted first through the upper front opening 5' when positioning it in the case, rather than through the rear lower opening 6'.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3, the package case is provided with-similarly shaped parallel and opposed top and bottom sides 7 and 8, the forward exposed edge 7a of the top side being disposed at an acutecangle with respect to the-rear edge 7b of such top side. The rear exposed edge as of the bottom side 8 is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the forward edge 8b of the bottom side. The top and bottom sides are in" reversed positions so that the narrower end portion of the top side overlies the wider portion of the bottom side 8. The top and bottom sides 7 and 8am so shaped that several cigarettes of a packagemay be partially exposed at their ends along either of the exposed edges 7a or 8a of the. top and bottom sides. The exposed edges 7a and 8a ofthe top and bottom sides 29.16 so angularly positioned with respect to their respectively associated edges 7b and 8b that only a portion of the ends of'one or more cigarettes may bev exposed, thereby normally-preventingsuch cigarettes .and'others in the package from falling out. Connected to the opposite ends of the top and-bottom sides -7 and '8 are similarly shaped lateral sides 9, 9. These lateralsides'9, 9 are in parallel relationship but are reversed as to their. positions; each comprisesa narrowed end portion-and a widened end portion, the narrowend'portion ofone lateral side being joinedto the narrowend of the top side7 and the narrow end'portion of the other lateral side being joined to the narrow end of the bottom side 8. Similarly the wider end portion of one of the lateral sides 9 is' joined to the wide end of thetop side-7 while the wide end portion of the other lateral side isjoined to the wide. end of the bottom side 8. The forward: edges of the lower portions of lateral sides 9 9 are in vertical parallel relationship and lie in a common vertical plane, and similarly the rear edges of the upper portions of the lateral sides are in vertical parallel relationship and lie in a common vertical plane, and by reason of the vertical positions of these edges, front and rear rectangular sides 10 and 11 respectively, may be secured thereto and arranged in vertical parallel planes. The lateral sides 9, 9 are formed with upper and lower V-shaped openings or suitably formed cuts as at 12, thereby making it possible to engage opposite sides of a cigarette package with the fingers of ones hand to outwardly bul e or distort such package as shown in Fig. 8 so one or more cigarettes may be moved forwardly to permit their withdrawal upwardly past the exposed angular edge 7a of the top side 7. The front and rear sides ltl and 11 are substantially the same size and shape, and the vertical dimension of each is preferably slightly less than the overall height of the case. The case is formed above the front side It and below the rear side 11 with rectangular openings lit and Ill respectively, such openings beingslightly larger in their vertical dimensions than their respectively associated sides. The front opening id is positioned directly in front of the rear side 11, and the rear opening llll' is positioned directly to the rear of the front side It The upper edge 10a of the front side .lll lies in a horizontal plane which is preferably only slightly below the horizontal plane in which the lower edge life of the rear side 11 lies. The sides v7, 8, 9, 9, lid and it are so arranged and constructed that a cigarette package A of conventional shape will fit snugly inside the case and will be normally securely held therein. A suitable horizontal slot 13 may be provided in either the front side ldor the rear-side 11 for receiving a cover of a packet of matches C, such cover being threaded inwardly through the slot and then extended upwardly toward the center of the case and then passed outwardly over the exposed edge of the said side.

A package of cigarettes A with its cigarettesI exposed at one end may be first inserted diagonally through either of the openings 1% or 11' and then positioned inside the case in the manner. heretofore described. -When once brought into its fixed position inside the case, the package is normally prevented from falling out; in fact, the, snug fit of the package against the sides of the case prevents any appreciable movementof the package within the case.

The embodiment of my-invention shown in Fig. 4, is similar to the case illustrated in Fig. 3, ex-cept.that the front and rearsides lit) and lllll are considerably shorter in their vertical dimensions than the sides 10 and 11. However, the upper edgellltla .of the front side and the lower edge 111a of the rear side 111 are in the same relative positions as the corresponding upper and lower edges, respectively, of the sides ill and 11 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is illustrative of the manner in which the case comprising the present invention may be skeletonized in so far as its front and rear sides are concerned. The cuts or V-shaped openings 12, in the sides 9, 9 provide. means permitting the engagement of ones fingers Withthe opposite lateral sides of a cigarette package to permit the bulging thereof when a cigarette is to be withdrawn. In the particular embodiments of my invention wherein the cuts, openings or grooves 32; are provided in theopposite lateral sides 9, 9, the front or rear openings 10' and 11 allow the cigarette package to besdistorted so a portion thereof projects outwardly beyond the exposed edge .of the top or bottom of the case.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5 is similar to the package cases shown in Figs. 3 and 4, except that the top and bottom sides 107 and 163 are substantially rectangular in shape and are provided respectively with suitable grooves, cuts or openings'ltlla and 168a which permit the convenient removal of one or more cigarettes from a cigarette package held in the case. In this embodiment the vertical lateral sides 9, 9

are also provided with opposed pairs of openings, cuts or grooves 12 which permit the finger engagement of the lateral sides of a cigarette package to permit the distortion or bulging thereof when one or more cigarettes are to be withdrawn.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the numerals 13 and 14 designate respectively the top and bottom sides of a package case adapted to receive and hold a package of cigarettes. The top and bottom sides 13 and 14 are similarly shaped and positioned, and each is formed with a corner portion cut away as at 15 to provide openings in the case through which cigarettes may be withdrawn. Secured to the parallel ends of the top and bottom sides 13 and 14 are lateral parallel sides 16, 16 which are each approximately one-half /z) the depth of the case. The corner cuts 15 in the top and bottom sides 13 and 14 extend somewhat diagonally in the same direction as at 15a toward a vertical plane passing centrally through the top and bottom sides from the parallel ends of the latter, thereby providing cuts of suitable shape and size permitting the insertion of a cigarette package into the case. Extending vertically in parallel relationship and connected respectively to the forward and rear parallel edges of the top and bottom sides 13 and 14 are similarly shaped front and rear vertical sides 17 and 18 which are approximately one-half /2) the width of the case. The lateral sides 16, 16 while disposed in vertical parallel planes are not in opposed relationship, but rather each is positioned opposite a longitudinal side opening in the opposite lateral side of the case. Similarly the front and rear sides 17 and 18 while disposed in vertical parallel planes are not in opposed relationship but rather they are respectively positioned opposite longitudinal rear and front openings in the rear and front sides of the case. By reason of the shape, size and relative arrangement of the top 13, bottom 14, lateral sides 16, 16, the front side 17 and rear side 18, the case is formed with similarly shaped longitudinal corner openings 19 positioned diagonally with respect to each other, either of which may be used to insert a package of cigarettes into the case. As shown in Fig. 7 by the broken lines, a package of cigarettes A when inserted inot the case is extended diagonally through one of the corner openings 19 to a position whereby it may be swung about a longitudinal vertical axis to bring its lateral sides within the confines of and parallel to the vertical lateral half sides 16, 16. When so positioned, the package is securely held in the case with the front and rear half sides 17 and 18 engaging with the front and rear sides of the package and the top and bottom sides 13 and 14 engaging with the top and bottom of the package. The end of the cigarette package having its cigarettes exposed may be positioned so such cigarettes may be withdrawn from either opening in the top or bottom of the case.

The case is preferably made from any suitable metal or plastic material and if desired, lettering, designs or the like may be provided on one or more sides thereof. It is also to be noted that the slotted means for attaching a packet of matches may be provided in any of the cases embodying my invention.

While the package case embodying my invention may be used for the holding and dispensing of various kinds of packaged merchandise, it is particularly suitable for use as a holder for a package of cigarettes, since it permits the convenient withdrawal of a cigarette and prevents the remaining cigarettes from being crushed when carried in ones pocket.

What I claim is:

A one piece package case for repeated use in holding cigarette packages which, when emptied, arediscarded, comprising a container conforming generally to the size and shape of such a package, the said container having a top and a bottom, side walls lying in parallel but not opposed relationship, the side walls each having an opening extending the length of the container, the said openings in the side walls being arranged so the opening in one side wall is in opposed relation to the other side wall, a front wall and a rear wall arranged in parallel but not opposed relationship, the front wall having an opening extending the length of the container and arranged in adjoining relationship to the opening in one of the side walls, and the rear Wall having an opening extending the length of the container and arranged in adjoining relationship to the opening in the other side wall, the adjoining openings forming diagonally arranged corner openings adapted to receive a cigarette package, and the top and bottom having openings adjoining the corner openings for the withdrawal of cigarettes from the package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,093 Cage Sept. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,165 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1929 493,643 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1938 

